As U.S. President Donald Trump embarks on his first foreign trip, domestic politics proved difficult to leave behind. More media revelations, not refuted by the White House, suggest Trump’s challenges are mounting.

CGTN’s Nathan King reports.

Domestic crises sours US President Trump's first foreign trip

As U.S. President Donald Trump left for his first overseas trip, turmoil at home proved difficult to escape. New revelations over the Trump administration's ties to Russia are bogging down the White Hose, signaling that Trump's challenges are mounting.

All smiles as the President and Mrs. Trump boarded Air Force one for Riyadh but as the plane lifted off the mood inside may have soured.

More media reports said that the FBI investigation into possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 election campaign may be targeting a current official in the White House.

This, as U.S. Congressional investigators said the fired FBI chief James Comey is now ready to testify in a public session.

Comey is widely reported to have kept notes on his meetings with Trump which allegedly described pressure from the president to back off from some avenues of inquiry.

And there are more leaks from the White House saying Trump described the FBI chief as “crazy” and a “nut job” to Russian officials in the Oval office and expressed relief at his firing saying it had taken “great pressure” off him.

While not denying the allegations, the US president’s Press Secretary, Sean Spicer issued a statement saying partly:

“James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia.”

Political critics said the White House is in crisis.

“Each day it seems President Trump and his administration become further and further embroiled in scandals of their own making. In just four months these scandals have shaken the foundations of our democracy,” Democratic Congressman David Cicilline said.

Trump’s supporters agree with the president’s view that this is a witch hunt lead by a hostile press and political opponents.

But many of the revelations in the press are coming from unnamed sources inside the White House, people who are close to Trump.

Until the president can control them many believe this climate of chaos here in Washington will only continue.

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